Pipe-engaging slip



May 6 1924.

G. R. LIVERGOOD PIPE ENGAGING SLIP Filed June 17, 1922 (3' X LIVEKGOODgrvuenhn Patented May 6, 1924.

PAT

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PIPE-ENGAGING SLIP.

Application filed June 17, 1922. Serial No. 568,989.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD R. Livnaooon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Houston, Harris County, Texas, have in vented a certain newand useful Improvement in Pipe-Engaging Slips, of which the following isafull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in pipe engaging slips for use onrotaries in well drilling. It is adapted particularly for gripping thepipe and sustaining the load of the string of drill stem or casing whilethe joints of same are being screwed or unscrewed, at times when thepipe is being introduced into, or being removed from the well. This toolis designed as an improvement on the construction shown in my Patent No.1,381,074: issued June 7, 1921.

The object of my improvement is to provide a pipe engaging slip whereina plurality.

of jaws are used on a holder having a means to prevent rotation of saidjaws beyond a certain range of movement.

Another object is to mount the jaws in the holder so that they will havea free, yet limited movement in all directions both relative to theholder and to each other.

I have found that where pipe is gripped with the ordinary pipe engagingslip, made up of two or three jaws for the entire pipe, the pipe isclamped so firmly against each ofsaid jaws as to make the release of thepipe from the jaws difficult. But where a larger number of jaws are usedto avoid such diiiiculty, it becomes necessary to mount them in holdersso that a number of jaws may be handled as a unit. These jaws must bemounted for free movement relative to the holder and to each other toprovide for the quick release of the pipe which is desired.

This application is a continuation of my application No. 507,528 filedOct. 13, 1921.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification andwherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in the.various views, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a slip constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on theplane 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a set of jaw'sconstituting one of my slips, the holding means for said jaws beingremoved. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the plates constituting a part ofthe holder. Fig. 5 is a similar bottom plan view and Fig. 6 is a side oredge elevation of one of the top plates connected with the holdingmeans. i

The pipe engaging slips shown in the drawing are constructed generallyin the same manner as has been shown in my prior patent above referredto, with the exception of certain details of construction which'will beparticularly pointed out. I have shown two separate sets of jaws, eachset being an exact duplicate of the other, the two sets together actingto entirely surround a pipe to be seized by the jaws. Each slipcomprises four jaws 7 held together for movement as a unit by means of aholder or cage.

This holder is made up of an upper plate 8 and a lower plate 9 connectedtogether and spaced apart by means of rods or pins 10, one rod for eachof the separate jaws. The upper plate 8 is provided at its outer marginwith a downwardly projecting flange 11 thereon, and on its upper face ithas two spaced upwardly extending lugs 12. These lugs are formed with ahorizontal opening 13 therein to receive the lower hooked end of a bailor handle 14, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. The lower plate 9 is anarcuate fiat plate having spaced openings 15 therein, said openingsbeing threaded so that the lower threaded end of the rods 10 may bescrewed therein. Nuts 16 may also be screwed on to the lower ends ofthe'pins 10 after they have been threaded through the openings in theplate 9. These nuts are locked in position by any well known means toprevent their accidental removal. v

The jaws 7 are provided with longitudinal openings 18 therethrough toreceive the pins or rods 10. These openings are materially larger thanare the pins so. that the jaws may have a movement in all lateraldirections relative to the pins. The'two plates 8 and 9 are spaced apartso' that the jaws may also move vertically between the plates a certainpredetermined distance. The jaws will thusbe free to move separatelyupon the frame or holder thus provided, but in order to prevent arotative' movement of the. jaws on the holder and es eciallv of the twoend jaws on such ho der, T contemplate providing one or both of theplates with vertically extending flanges to co-act with the jaws toprevent rotative movement beyond a certain point. In the drawing 1 haveshown the upper plate thus provided with a downwardly extending flange11. To receive this flange the upper ends of the jaws are provided witha marginal recess 17. to receive this downwardly extending flange. Aswill be seen particularly from Fig. 2, this flange 11 is spaced slightlyaway from the upper end of each of the jaws so as to. allow a limitedradial lay of the jaws relative to this flange 11 o the upper plate.

Nhen my device, constructed as herein described, is employed inpractice, the slip comprisingthe four jaws held together by the framework. or holder is handled by the drillers by the use 'of the bail orhandle 14. The slips are thus adjusted in position about the pipe on:the rotary. Two of these slips are necessai' to entirely enclose thepipe, although it is obvio us that a fewer numb-er of aws could beemployed in each set, thereby necessitating a larger number of separateslips. The outer face of each set of jaws is tapered to fit within thetapered seat of a rotary, and, as the pipe comes in contact with thetoothed inner face ofthe jaws the said jaws are moved downwardly withinthe seat of the rotary and are clamped firmly against the pipe so asl tosustain its entire weight. Each jaw being made on so short an are itdoes notwedge against the pipe so as to be jammediinto position, andhence when the pipe is again raised up the jaws will easily release anddrop away from the pipe and can be removed.

The provision of the vertically extending flange on the. plate fittingwithin a recess in each of the jaws does not interfere with the limitedmovement. necessary for each jaw to accommodate itself to the surface ofthe pipe, but will. act to prevent a rotative movement of the jaw beyondthe necessary limited range.

The further objects and advantages of my improvement will be obvious toone skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A slip for rotaries comprising a plurality of sets ofpipe-engagingjaws shaped to fit a tapered seat, each set comprising a plurality ofjaws, means to hold each set of said jaws loosely together, comprisingupper and lower arcuate plates, means securing said jaws loosely to saidplates, each of said jaws having a marginal recess at its outer,

upper face, and a' downwardly projecting means-s flange on the uppermostplate adapted to fit into said recesses so as to allow a limited play tosaid aws relative to said plate and to each other. a

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of sets of pipeengaging jaws, upper and lower plates on each said set, means connectingsaid jaws loosely between said plates, and a downwardly projectingflange on said upper plate, each of said jaws being recessed to receivesaid flange loosely. V: 3. A pipe engaging slip, comprising a pluralityof'arcu'ate pipe engaging jaws, 11 holder whereby said jaws may be movedas a unit, said holder including an upper arcuate plate, a downwardlyextending flange thereon, said jaws being recessed to receive saidflange loosely, and means on said plate whereby said jaws may be handledin operation. n

4 In a pipe engaging slip, a plurality of units, each comprising .aplurality of armate pipe engaging jti\VS,:lllG outer faces of which aretapered downwardly, and a holder for said jaws including spaced platesoneof which has a .vertically extending flange, said jaws. beingrecessed to loosely receive said flange.

5. A pipe engaging slip comprising a pluralityi of jaws, and means tohold said jaws together as a unit including an upper arouate platehaving a downwardly projecting flan e thereon, said jaws being recessedto receive said flange and thus limit the rotative movement of said jawsas described.

6. A pipe engaging slip-comprising a plurality of arcuate pipe engagingjaws, a holder whereby said aws are held together as a unit including anarcuate plate having a vertically extending flange thereon, meanssecuring said jaws loosely to said plate, said jaws having recessestherein to receive said flange in the manner described.

7. In a device 'of the character described, a plurality of sets ofarcuate pipe engaging jaws tapered to fit within a tapered seat, and aholder for each set of jaws whereby said jaws may be handled as a unitso as to be moved to and from said tapered seat, said jaws being mountedloosely on said holder thereby allowing a limited play of said jaws inboth lateral and vertical directions relative to the holder and to eachother.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix' my signature this the 13 day ofJune, A. D. 1922.

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD.

